And walter s



\ July 2, 1929.

H. J. MURRAY ET AL UIT CLOSER Filed July 7, 1923 lNVENTO Rfi lllll v ATTORNEY Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED/ STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD J. MURRAYLQE BRQQKLYN, NEW YORK, AND'WALTER s. RUGG, or PITTS- BURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS T0 R. M. COMPANY, me, or EAST rrrrs- B RGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A coRro m'rmN or DELAWARE.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application filed 1111 27,

. Thejinvention relatesto a -i signalling other physicalembodiment Ofzth61 form of the invention? entitled -=.:Direc tion 1 indicator .at-

tachment filed under evendate :and bearing Serial'No.=-650,010.-

'Onecfxtlu'a-v objects ofthe invention is to provide a simple-form of signal device which will tend to school the operator to give a preindication of his intent to cause 'some 'sequen--.-

- :tial action of the vehicle equippedfwith the ative and .o'utof the control-of the operator.

device. Incidental-to this general object another object is to-provide a signal or indicator of the class des'crbied-which requires 41. positive actuation on the part of the operator in order to cause the :proper signalto functlOIl: .9'|-7E.: 1 .i

l Another object .iiszto provide inlconnection with such signalling device; a 'safetydevice' which will cause all signals to become inoperfollowing any movement 10f the: steering wheel -to effect'a turning of the avehicle to either the right or left. The invent-ion zacc'ordingly features a construction in which the signal device must be actuated by the operator prior to the actuation of the steering. mechanism, which device will not become operative if an attempt be made to reverse this sequence of operation ated only when the steering-.mechanism is again in its normal straight forward directingposition... z

Various other objects and advantages 'of l the invention will be in part obvious from an inspect-ion of the accompanying. drawings and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying my invention, and

-the invention also consists ig certain new and novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set'forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through the upper portion of a steering column showing a preferred embodiment of the invention installed thereon andsliowing in diagram I matic outlines a. signalling system together with-the necessary electrical connections;

1923. Serial No. 650,011.-

1 Figure 2 is a View in front elevation of. the

control looking-at the same from the left side of Figure 1; and

F'gurefl3 is an enlarged detailed view of thebutterfiy cam shown in Figuresl and 2.

claims, parts will be identified by specific;

names for convenience of expression but they are intended to be as generic in their application;to similar parts asthe art will permit.

In the drawings there is shown asteer-ing column 10 including afixed casing 11 and steering wheel 12 including the usual hand run 13. Demount-ably positioned on the casing'll by means of a strap 14 is a circuit clos-- er 15. The circuit closer includes a spring controlled upstanding control lever 16 and is. designedto be'moved either to the right 'orleft'as'infclicated in-dotted lines in Figure 1 sjojas to; close the. circuit through a=-le ft indi-;

cating signal 17 01. a rightindicatingfsignal 18.4 :The circuit is supplied with energy from a battery 19 and in other respects the device disclosed inthis application. corresponds in general-tothe disclosure in the above identi-- fied-applicationfiled under even date.

1A spl1t-band 20 is; secured to the'hub 21 of the .wheel and has its lower edge bent upwardlyfoutwardly and back upon itself .to formadownwardly facing and split annular groove 22.; This groove is so. disposed that it can ride idly over the lever 10. when the lever is in its normal upstanding and ,circuit openin position shown in Figure 1. The lower efges 23 and 24 forming the groove are so disposed that when the lever is shifted by the 'cam mechanism hereinafter described the edges will act as stops to prevent the return to normal of the lever and will act to lock the lever in'one or the other of itscircuit closing positions until re-rotat-ion of the steering wheel causes the lever to come opposite the opening 25 formed in the edges as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. A portion ofthe band 21, is split and-bent'outwardly to form an otl-' set 25 and to this offset is pivoted a two-end cam. This cam is provided .with outstanding wing portions 27 and 28 which are inclined in opposite directions froma ta ngent to thepath described by the cam in rotating with the steering Wheel. The cam faces 27Hand 28 are so disposed that when the cam is rotated shown iniFigure from its-normal, inoperative position shown pendentofgtheisignaldevice. *However, in

in Figure 2, one -or theother of the'cam-faces will be disposed to extend through theopening25 and into bearing engagement with the lever to move the same to'fitheflrig'ht or left depending upon the cam selected, to actuate the lever. The cam is operativelycontrolled from a handle or hand grip 29 guided for-city cumferential movement on the run 13 and operatively connected through an lever 30.-

The inner end of the lever engages between bi furcatcd arms 31 formed in the out turned upper end of: the 0am. A spring 32'abts on the cam to return the same toitsihoperative position removed from possibility ofengage ment with :the' lever as anore pa/rtienlarly In operation it will be understood that with the parts in their :normal position shown in the drawings, the steering wheel "can be' ac- 1 tuate'd' independently :of the signalling de turn,'suchfor instanceyas algtu rn'to the left, he will first move the gr-ipQ 'in'th'e direotion in which he intendsto turn. If this'b'e' movement'to the left, as suggested theii the cam 27 Willfirst be shifted into position facing the upstanding lever 16 and actintimied vice. Should the operatordesi're to inake a movement of the "grip 2 9 will cause the cam to bear on thedever to shift tl1e=same toithe left and 'thus close the circuit through the-left I hand signal 17; Ordinarily the operator will move'the grip 5 iii the reversedfdirection to intercept the actuation of the signal and this can be-done-p'rovided the steering mechanism is 'in normal position pause the vehicle to travel straight forward; Itis obviously within the scope of thisdisclosnre to make' the spring '32 sulficiently strong to r'etu'rn the parts to their 'normalinoperative position when :the operator releases hi's holding ten sion on the grip- 29. Inst'ead ofshifting the selected cam into bearing: engagement' with the lever 16 it is'possible to shiftthe' cam into position facing the lever tou'chihg but not' moving the same and to depend ;upon the turning-of the steering W'vheel itselflto' -actually shift the lever. ln this way the proper signal may be preselected but not actuated until the steering movement has aotually commenced. In this respect-thediselosure follows the invention disclosed :in the preceding applications.

cam must=be rotated into ipositionpriorto theshifting i oi the steering'wheel. Should the steering wheel be turned ithe -locking groove-22 will move over the lever '16 thus locking the same iniits normal inoperative position and no movement/ofithe cam thereafter, and-while the wheel is :so shifted-, will have any effect on therlocked 'circuit-closenl The lockingof :the signal device .willihave-no .ef-,

feet on the,steeringmechanism: and the-steering wheel can be shifted atall times inde order to acti'late the signal thesteering-whecl must-be restored to its normal position and thus permit thelcvento come opposite the openingbetiveen'the endsof the'part forming the groove: I 7 r, I I i In such a device it is nec essaryfor the open atpr tgactuate the signal prior to any steering movement for if he moves the steering wheel prion'toigivingithe-signal then the signal control will be locked against any movement and will remain loc-ked until the steering ivheelis restored to 1 its position: to ca use a. forward drivezofthe vehicle. i

'By me-ans of a device of this characterflheoperator is-;sehooledto give a 'prerindication 1 of: his intended turn and soon learns that the actuation 'of: the signal' must precede the actual turning of-the vehiole.-

\Vhile emphasis has been placed feature of a signal idevice.fonindicating a left or' ri ght; turn of lthe =vehicle itiis obviously Within the .scope of the disclosure to: also the control herein featured: for zoth'er signal -devices, such 'for instance, as a stop signal and as-a inzitter of fact the disclosure can be usedhin any situation where: a: definite sequence of: overt acts :on the part ofian operator lS'dCSlD Gd."

' Wliile- We ihavesho xvn and described, and

on the have pointed out in the annexed claims, cer-- tatin lnoveliifeatlir es of my-.iinvention,iitzxvill be minder-stood that various. IOIIIlSSldIlS, si1bstrtutionsiand changes an @the 'form and details'of t-he device illustrated and in its oper ation may'ibe made by' those skilled in the art Without departing from :the spiritiof the invention.

---Havingz thus described our -rin vention, xve

claimm: 4,

1. .Ina device of the class described, ithe combination 0f aisteering' wheel, a control lev'cr,'imanually actuated mechanism carried by:rche-steeringwheel, said mechanism including" a butterfly cam adaptedto be 0p'er= atiwely connected'to tlIQL lQVCL tO shift Lthe same iintoirposition'rto cause :thelever to be moved into an operative position andilocking means irotated by ithe steering-wheel for securing the control-lever in the operative po-' sition into :Which grit i has 1 previously been moved by the :manualaotuation of the earn.

2. In a 'deviceiofwthe class described, the combination-of a=circuit closer including a control level. movable in opposite directions,-

combination with a steering wheel provided with a rim, of an attachment therefor coinprising a manually actuated grip member mounted to move along the rim of the wheel, a switch control member mounted to move idly when the wheel is rotated and moved by the. sliding of the grip member on the rim into position to become operative on the subsequent movement of the wheel.

t. In a device of the class described, the combination with a steering wheel provided with a rim, a lever terminating at. one end into a hand grip movable along the rim in the direction ot movement of the same, and a switch actuating cam pivoted to the wheel to turn therewith and controlled by the lever.

5. In a device of the class described, the (Ull'lhilltltlOIl with a steering wheel provided with a rim, a lever terminating at one end into a hand grip movable along the rim in the direction of movementot' the same, a switch actuating cam pivoted to the wheel to turn therewith and controlled by the lever and a resilient means acting on the cam and tending normally to maintain the same in inoperative position.

(3. In a. device of the class described. the combination of a control device provided with a lever having an operative and an inoperative position. steering mechanism including a lever locking member spaced from amt thus disconnected from the lever when the steering mechanism is in its normal forward driving position and movable idly past the lever when the lever is in its inoperative position and movable on the rotation of the steering mechanism trom its normal position into position locking the lever in its operative position amt manually actuated means. o mrably dependent upon the normal position of the steering mechanism tor shitting the lever from its inoperative into its operation position to be locked therein on a subsequent movement from normal of the steering mechanism.

7. In a device of: the class described, the combination of a steering mechanism, a lever locking member mounted on the steering mechanism to turn therewith, a control lever having two positions, one in the path of movement of said locking member and the other offset from said path, and manually actuated means for shifting the lever transversely of said path to and from its two positions and said locking means acting to prevent the shitting of said control lever when shi't'ted by the steeringmechanism into the path of transverse movement of the lever.

8. ln a device of the class described, the combinat ion ot a steering wheel, a lever shitting cam carried by the wheel and mo able therewith, a lever disposed in the path of movement of the cam and means for disposing the cam in operative position in said path, and resilient means acting on the cam and normally tending to move the same into an inoperative position out of said path.

5). In a vehicle, the combination with a steering wheel including a rim, of a circuit closer provided with means for securing the same in place, an attachment. provided with means tor remountably securing the same in place. said attachment constituting a control tor the circuit closer and including an actuating handle partially encircling and guided on the rim of the steering wheel.

10. ln a. device of the class described. an attachment provided with means for securiug the same to a vehicle without modifying the vehicle parts to which it: is secured, said attachment including vehicle mechanism and a control therefor, and said control provided with means curved to the curvature ot the wheel rim and shaped for mounting the same in position to constitute in etl'ect the part of the steering wheel rim which is usually grasped by the operator in the act of steering the vehicle.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a vehicle steering wheel provided with a rim, and a manually actuated control including a curved hand grip member mounted to move circmnterei'itially ot' the rim.

This speeilication signed this 20 day of June, 1923.

llOiVAltl) J. MURRAY.

This specification signed this 20 day of June, 1923.

WALTER s. Rose. 

